DOG CREEK RECEIVING $120,000 TO RESTORE GRASSLANDS

VICTORIA – The Canoe Creek Band will receive $120,500 through the Community Development Trust’s Job Opportunities Program to help protect and restore endangered grasslands of the Cariboo Chilcotin near 100 Mile House, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell and Community Development Minister Blair Lekstrom announced today.

“The grasslands of the Cariboo Chilcotin are an important part of the ecological and cultural landscape of British Columbia,” said Lekstrom. “We are pleased to be able to provide employment opportunities, while improving land management in the Cariboo Chilcotin.”

The funds are being used to establish stock trails which will assist in moving cattle in and around Alberta Lake and away from open grasslands, riparian areas and endangered species habitat. The work will involve the removal and slashing of mostly dead, mountain pine beetle-infected pine trees and some Douglas fir trees. The project is expected to provide employment for up to 15 forest workers.

“The Job Opportunities Program is one of three programs under the Community Development Trust designed to help communities create practical, short term jobs in a way that is responsive to the needs of recently displaced forest workers,” said Bell. “It provides funds to local organizations, communities and First Nations, such as the Canoe Creek Band, who have created on-the-ground projects with tangible benefits to the area.”

“The ecosystem restoration project offers a substantial opportunity for this very remote community in the extensive grasslands of the Fraser River,” said Mike McDonough, Stswecem'c Xgat'tem project manager. “It will provide income for 15 families in the course of the project. The Stswecem'c Xgat'tem Development Limited Partnership crews are experienced, well-trained, well-equipped and have an excellent reputation for performance.”

The objectives of the $26.25-million Job Opportunities Program are directed at reducing the impact of current layoffs on workers employed in the forest industry, retaining skilled forest workers for the anticipated future upturn, and preserving the characteristics of the labour force in forest-dependent communities.

A forest-dependent community or organization and forest licensees or forest contractors working in cooperation with a forest-dependent community, are eligible to submit a project proposal to the Job Opportunities Program. So far, 110 submissions have been received and 51 projects totalling over $8 million from across the province have been approved.

The Job Opportunities Program is one component of the Community Development Trust, which was announced in May. B.C.’s share of the federal trust is $129 million over three years, with funds also directed to programs for tuition assistance and transition assistance for older workers.

For more information about the Community Development Trust and Job Opportunities Program, go to: http://www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt/

-30-


Media contact:	Vivian Thomas Communications Manager Ministry of Forests and Range 250 213-2972	Leanne Ritchie Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Community Development 250 213-8075
	Mike McDonough The Stswecem'c Xgat'tem Development Limited Partnership 250 398-9440
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.